Michelin Guide 2011

Gourmets from all over the world await expectanctly every year the release of the new Michelin Guide to see which restaurants have been awarded their famous stars outlining the very best food experiences in every country.
Spain's issue has just been presented, and although in Catalonia 5 of our restaurants lost stars (for a change in their management or even because the owners asked to be removed from the starred-list for some reason), 5 have winned their first one and the restaurant Miramar in Llançà has been given a second one.
Congratulations to all of you!

** Miramar (Llançà, Girona)
* Dos Cielos (Barcelona - Me Hotel)
* Caelis (Barcelona - Palace Hotel)
* Moments (Barcelona - Mandarin Hotel)
* Hisop (Barcelona)
* Capritx (Terrassa, Barcelona)

Find here the Michelin Star Restaurants in Barcelona plus many more recomendations!

And check out here where are the other Michelin Star Restaurants in Catalonia!
And remember I can organize an unforgettable daytrip for you scheduling the visit of some tourist site in the morning followed by lunch in the Michelin Star restaurant of your choice!

Madrid networking

Sometimes my clients have asked me if I could recomend someone in Madrid for a private tour. I'd heard from some people but never having really met them I didn't feel comfortable recomending anyone. Today, though, I had the opportunity of some real networking.

Gemma is the owner of http://madridcoolandcultural.com/, she was going to be in Barcelona for the weekend and contacted me to meet up. We had a coffee in a lovely cafe in the Eixample, near her hotel, and she is lovely! Energetic, enthousiastic, entrepreneur and passioned about art and her city. The kind of people I'm glad to recomend! She's lived in the US for several years, so her English must be really good (although I admit we only spoke Spanish and some Catalan - as she lived in Catalonia for some years in her childhood and youth!). Her tour offer sounds really nice too, quite in a similar line to mine: I can wait to visit her and check some of her favorite 100yo cake stores!

Catalan language in the world

This is a 4min video I found that explains quite well how extended and in use Catalan, our local language here, is. I thought it was worth sharing!

Romanesque Section of the MNAC closed for renovation works

Big news!
The Romanesque Section of the MNAC will be closed from Nov. 15th to June 2011 for renovation works. This collection, probably the best display of Romanesque church frescoes in the world, will be reorganized in order to improve the visitors experience and renovate the way information and the works are presented.
After seeing the great job they did with the Gothic Section new display (read my post on this here), I can't wait to see what will happen now with the Romanesque! Keep posted for news next June!

Visiting the Palau Moxo

On Thursday the administration of the Palau Moxo organized some tours to present their palace to the Barcelona local guides, and of course I didn't miss it and I loved it.

It's a unique opportunity to visit a private mansion of the 17-hundreds located at the heart of the Old Town. They keep original pieces of furniture and the building is still nowadays inhabited (that's why part of the house isn't open to visitors).

It's been opened recently, and therefore it's not yet in most guidebooks, what makes the experience even more charming as it's off the beaten paths. Plus you can rent the place for private events.

Don't miss it!

Http://www.palaumoxo.com

My new pics from the Sagrada Família!

Today I finished my morning city tour at the Sagrada Família, and after my clients left I went back in and spend some time taking some pictures of the newest things inside. It was the first time that people was allowed to walk around the presbitery (i.e. the alley around the altar, in the apse), and I trully loved it! And the ruled geometry of the vaults over the altar and the transept are beautiful! Don't miss it!

The Pope consacrates the Sagrada Familia church

The Pope Benedict XVI has been in Barcelona to consacrate the Sagrada Familia Church, whose inside naves have been finally completed (although there are still many minor details missing inside, and 10 more towers need to be built outside including the main entrance - The Glory Façade.

A beautiful cerimony took place this morning, and the Pope also declared the church a Basilica, a hierarhic catholic title only accorded to some very special churches in the world.

E-mail from Mme. Vanderroost

Véronique Vanderroost's daughter, Julie, and her boyfriend Jonathan (an adorable young couple) were coming to Barcelona for the first time, and Ms. Vanderroost decided to offer them a city tour as well as an hour of counseling where I gave them suggestions on how best to organize their stay, some ideas on restaurants, bars, cafés and clubs to go, as well as some orientation on how to use the subway to get around the city and some other infos they needed.

Both times, after our first meeting and after the tour, I wrote Ms. Vanderroost to keep her posted. She was very pleased, and here is the translation of the e-mail she sent me afterwards (the original was in French, as they are from Belgium):

Dear Marta,

I'd like to thank you so much for everything you've done...

My husband and I are just back from a 3-day trip to Strasbourg.

Your emails made me so happy...

I've got your contact info and I'll make sure to contact you if I ever come to Barcelona, and I'll recomend you to my friends.

A BIG BIG THANKS MARTA !!

Good evening to you too

Véronique